European Champions League Women (from 3rd to 8th December)
The knock out stage on the day four of the play in Sportpark Lissfeld at the European Champions League Women brought play off matches for one remaining place in the semi final. SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin Metz TT and UCAM Cartagena T.M have played for one position that will launch them in semis.
At the end of the day Metz TT joined TTC Berlin eastside Linz AG Froschberg and TT Saint-Quentinois . The penultimate stage will be played tomorrow. Metz will play against Berlin in the first ever semi final of the European Champions League Women for the club.
You can follow the live action here https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/playerpage/304491
SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin CZE – Metz TT FRA 2:3
Sakura MORI – Adina DIACONU 3:0 (15:13 14:12 11:8)
Solomiya BRATEYKO – Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN 1:3 (11:13 11:9 6:11 8:11)
Natalia PARTYKA – WU Jiaduo 1:3 (5:11 12:14 11:9 9:11)
Sakura MORI – Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN 3:2 (11:5 11:9 10:12 11:3 6:4)
Solomiya BRATEYKO – Adina DIACONU 1:3 (7:11 11:4 9:11 9:11)
In the long distance thriller at the beginning of the day Metz TT recorded win against SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin.They needed three hours to overcame Czech Republic’s club.
In the opening match Romania’s Adina DIACONU put Japan’s Sakura MORI under great pressure but all her efforts to force MORI into the first defeat at the tournament failed. All three games ended by narrowest of margins.
Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN was tested in two opening games against Solomiya BRATEYKO. However after two close games that went firstly on Daniela’s and then on Solomiya’s account Romania’s player settled in more comfortable rhythm.
WU Jiaduo overcame Natalia PARTYKA in the match full of ups and downs before SAKURA entered the playing field once again. Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN got a first chance to finish the match in Metz’s favor. Stretched to full distance but equally dangerous SAKURA did not let that happen. Tense and close duel went to five games where sudden death took the best of SAKURA.
“It was far from my lucky day today. Usually it should not be big problem. I like her style of play. Her heavy balls are not problem for me. I felt quite comfortable in the opening game but in the second I lost by narrow margin and she took the control ” explained Daniela.
Against BRATEYKO both Romania’s stars played for a first time.
“We study her game her style is very difficult. However she struggled with my first top spin. I am not in top shape but results and play at this tournament helped me build my confidence ” said Adina.
UCAM Cartagena T.M ESP – SKST Stavoimpex Hodonín (CZE) 1:3
Maria XIAO – Sakura MORI 1:3 (10:12 2:11 12:10 9:11)
LI Fen – Natalia PARTYKA 3:1 (8:11 11:9 11:5 11:6)
Silvia ERDELJI – Solomiya BRATEYKO 2:3 (7:11 11:9 5:11 11:7 3:6)
LI Fen – Sakura MORI 1:3 (6:11 9:11 11:7 11:13)
UCAM Cartagena T.M ESP suffered against SKST Stavoimpex Hodonín in the second match of the day.
Sakura MORI continued in the same pace she was playing earlier this morning. This time it was Maria XIAO who suffered by the hands of the Japan’s player. Maria had a god start but from second half of the opening game MORI settled into the game and took over the control. Third and fourth games were close but on the final balls MORI showed more confidence.
LI Fen lost the opening game to Natalia PARTYKA but when Swede eventually get into the game and she took over the control. Silvia ERDELJI forced Solomiya BRATEYKO to go full distance but young player maintained her patience against Silvia’s defensive skills.
“I had bad start of the tournament. I was not happy with my performance but as time went by it get better. Against ERDELJI for me it was important to put each ball on the table to play safe without many risks. My block and top spin worked fine ” said BRATEYKO.
Duel between two number ones brought powerful and aggressive exchanges of rallies in which Sakura MORI proved to be faster and more precise in two opening games. LI recovered only in the third game just before MORI sealed the match in great style.
“I study all the adversaries a lot. My service and return game worked fine and now I am so happy ”said MORI.
UCAM Cartagena T.M ESP – Metz TT (FRA) 1:3
Maria XIAO – Adina DIACONU 2:3 (11:9 4:11 11:9 4:11 1:6)
LI Fen – Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN 3:1 (9:11 11:5 11:4 11:3)
Carmen LOZANO – WU Jiaduo 0:3 (8:11 2:11 3:11)
Maria XIAO – Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN 0:3 (8:11 9:11 4:11)
In the last match of the day Adina DIACONU went full distance against Maria XIAO before LI Fen managed to level the score. She beat Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN. On position no. three WU Jiadu drove on the fast lane. She overcame Carmen LOZANO to gave Metz advantage again. Daniela sealed the match after victory over Maria.
“I am so happy that we reached the first semi final for the club and personally it is the first one for me. We already showed against Linz that we can play good against the favories and we will give our best performance against the German side tomorrow. Maybe we had some advantage of being in the venue one day more…” said DIACONU.